Machine for passing logs over dams



(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 1.

D. B. WEAVER. Machine for Passing Logs Over Dams.

Nor-243,181. Patented June 2!,1881.

/ r r "A WITNESS c/fl INVENTORZ M v Z/zca/M/ I ATTORNEYS.

(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

1). B. WEAVER.

' Machine for Passing Logs Over Dams. No; 243,181. Patented June 21,1881.

WIT INVENTOR v ATTORNEYS.

N. PEYERS. Mo'LKMmphIn Wlnhlngmn. D. C.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

DAVID B. WEAVER, OF HOPEWELL TOWNSHIP, HUNTINGDON COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.

MACHINE FOR PASSlNG LOGS OVER DAMS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 243,181, dated June 21, 1881.

. Application filed March 31, 1881.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, D vrn B. WEAVER, of Hopewell township, in the county of Huntingdon and State of Pennsylvania, have invented a new and Improved Machine for Passing Logs over Dams, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description.

with suitable lever mechanism, whereby logs may be passed over the dam endwise; also, in the construction and combination of parts as hereinafter fully described.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure l is a plan view of my invention. Fig. 2 is a transverse section taken on line 00 w of Fig. 1. Figs. 3 and 5 are, respectively, sectional and front views of modifications of means for turning the shaft; and Fig. 4 is a top view, showing the construction whereby the logs are carried over the dam endwise.

Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts.

A represents the shaft or beam, which may be of any suitable length, and which may be pivoted or otherwise secured so that it can be turned in the abutments on side pieces, B B, and in such manner as to come near to or a little above the breast of the dam (J, and either in front of or-behind it, as shown in Figs. 2 and 3, and it is provided with the radial (preferably curved) arms D D, of iron or strong timber, which, in the construction shown in Fig. 2, reach over the edge of the dam and are submerged in the water, as shown.

To the top of the beam A, or on the journals outside the bearings, and projecting in the opposite direction from the arms D D, is secured by bolts or otherwise the timber E, which is provided at its rear end with the bucket F, which is braced on the under side by the brace F, and is so arranged relative to the race G as tobe adapted to be filled with water (No model.)

therefrom. The weight of the bucket F when empty is counterbalanced by the weight H, secured to the end of the radial arm I. end board, f, of the bucket F is pivoted between the side boards, f f, thereof, and when the box orbucket is elevated, as shown in Fig. 2, it is held closed by the rod,chain, or cord 9, which passes over the arm J which cord or chain is secured at one end to the arm I and at the other to thespiral spring 1', which is secured to the said hinged end board.

To the outside of the end board, f, is secured the cross-piece h, of wood or metal, which extends above and below the bucket, which serves to open the end board either automatically, as hereinafter described, or by means of the wire or cord j, extending from the upper end thereof to the lever K, pivoted to the abutment B.

\Vhen water is admitted to the box or bucket by opening the gate L the beam A will ultimately be turned in its bearings by the weight of water in the box or bucket, and the log or stick of timber N, which had been previously floated upon the arms D D, will be elevated by them and thrown over the dam. As the box or bucket descends the lower end of the crosspiece h will come in contact with the edge of the opening I or some other suitable projection 1 formed in or upon the base-board M of the structure, and cause the end board, f, to open and discharge the water from the box or bucket. The weight H will now cause the shaft or beam to turn in the opposite direction and resume its original position, ready to carry another log over the dam. As the logs leave the arms of the shaft or beam they are supported by the inclined timbers O 0, down which they rapidly slide iuto the lower stream, below the dam, outof the way of the next descent of the bucket, and as the logs slide down the inclined timber they may be turned endwise, if desired, by means of the board P, which is secured by the. post P in a diagonal position, so as to hold or retard one end of the logs.

To the front side of the beam is hinged the board Q, which serves as a sliding valve, to prevent waste of water at all times between the beam or shaft and the top or edge of the dam.

end of the lever V.

Instead of using the water bucket or box F and the weight H for oscillating the shaft A, it is obvious that other means might be used for this purpose and not depart from the spirit of my invention-such, for instance, as. that shown in Fig. 5, consisting of the water engine or ram R, the piston of which is secured to one end of the pivoted lever B, the other end thereof being provided with the rack d, which en gages with the segment-rack d, secured to the under side of the beam A, as shown; and itis also obvious that, instead ofusing an oscillating shaft or beam, the beam may be made to revolve, as shown in Figs. 3 and 4, in which case the beam should be pivoted in front of the breast of the dam and one end of it should be provided with the cogs 0, which mesh with the pinion 0, secured on the inner end of the shaft of the water-wheel S, and the arms DD should be made to slide as the shaft revolves in the holes 6 0, cut diametrically through the beam or shaft; and a suitable race and the gate and lever T T should be provided, to admit water upon the water-wheel, and the lever S, having the bent portion 8 at itslower end, adapted to come in contact with the side of the waterwheel, to serve as a brake, should also be provided for controlling the motion of the wheel. The water-wheel S may be applied directly to the beam A, as shown in Fig. 4, and thus dispense with the necessity of the cogs c c, in which case it is obvious the race Gr should convey the water to the opposite side of the wheel from that shown in Fig. 3, to give the shaft the proper direction of revolution.

For carrying logs over the dam endwise the beam or shaft A should have the cutaway or beveled portion a, formed in it, as shown in Fig. 4, and this part should be provided with the double row of metal points a.

In front of the cutaway or beveled portion a is the revolving spool U, secured to the bent This spool is also provided with metal spikes, and is prevented from revolving, except toward the shaft A, by the pawl a engaging with the ratchetv, formed on the end otthe spool, and is adapted,by means of the lever V, to elevate the ends of the logs, to cause them to engage with the spikes a in the cutaway portion, which catch in the logs and force them over the dam as the shaft revolves. The logs are supported and guided as they leave the shaft, and carried on below the dam, out of the way, by the revolving supports W.

Though I have shown my invention as being operated by water-power only, it is obvious that steam or other power might be used to revolve or turn the shaft and not depart from the spirit of my invention.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. The combination, with a dam, O, of an oscillating shaft, A, arranged at the top of said dam and provided with curved arms D, for the purpose specified.

2. The combination, with the dam G and oscillating shaft A, having curved arms D, of the board Q, hinged to the front side of said shaft, as and for the purpose specified.

3. The combination, with a dam, O, and oscillating shaft A, having curved arms D, of the timber E, carrying-bucket F, and end-weighted radial arm I, the end piece or outlet-gate of the bucket being pivoted between side boards, as and for the purpose specified.

4. The combination, with the bucket F, of the cord g, spiral spring 2", and arms J I, the latter arranged on oscillating shaft A, as and for the purpose specified.

5. The combination, with a dam, O, oscillating shaft A, having arms D, and hinged bucket F, having the end board,f, of the base-board M, having aperture 1, and the cross-bar h, extending above and below the bucket, for the pur- 85 pose specified.

DAVID B. WEAVER. Witnesses:

EPHRAIM B. HOLSINGER, J A0013 B. BROWN. 

